Name: Driving and Hiking Geo-Tour Mojave National Preserve & Mitchell Caverns
Start: 2026-03-06T12:00:00-08:00
End: 2026-03-08T17:00:00-07:00
Location: Hole in the Wall Visitor Center

**Please do not sign-on unless you are committed to making the trip.**

Geology field trip consists of a driving tour and short hikes in the Mojave National Preserve\*. Trip is for non-geologists and rocks, minerals, faults, and other geologic features and concepts will be explained on-site and an easy to understand manner; geologists are welcome on the trip too. This will be a small group Geo-hike event visiting several key locations in the Preserve, including the Rings Loop Trail with petroglyphs, Volcanism at the Wood Hills and Wild Horse Mesa, ancient crust of North America at Mid Hills, Bonanza King Mine (with a visit to the ruins of the nearby Providence mining camp), the unusual limestone and dolomite dominated terrain of the Providence Mountains, a ranger-led-tour of the Mitchell Caverns, the historic Kelso Train Depot and Dunes, and the Granite Mountains.

\*Mojave National Preserve: [https://www.nps.gov/moja/index.htm](https://www.nps.gov/moja/index.htm)

Meet at noon 11/21 at Hole-in-the-Wall Campground, Campsite 21, [https://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/camping.htm](https://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/camping.htm)
**IMPORTANT**: The Hole-in-the-Wall campground will remain open during the Federal Government shut-down. Bathrooms remain open, potable water is available at spigots, and security continues to operate. The visitor center is closed.

**Highlights:**
11/21, Set-up camp. Hike the Rings Loop Trail from the Hole-in-the-Wall Campground and discuss the geology/flora/petroglyphs. [https://californiathroughmylens.com/rings-trail/](https://californiathroughmylens.com/rings-trail/)
Volcanic rocks and history of the Wood Hills and Wild Horse Mesa. If time allows a drive along the Black Canyon Road to the Mid Hills Campground and visit ancient crust of North America (Early Proterozoic gneiss and schist with U–Pb ages \~1.76–1.71 billion years).

11/22, In the AM, drive and then hike 3 miles (roundtrip) along a dirt road to the Bonanza King Mine, [https://mojavedesert.net/desert-fever/providence.html](https://mojavedesert.net/desert-fever/providence.html)
[https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Geolex/UnitRefs/BonanzaKingRefs_12404.html](https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Geolex/UnitRefs/BonanzaKingRefs_12404.html)
In the afternoon, a range led tour of the Mitchell Caverns followed by a short hike looking at the geology/flora of the Providence Mountains, [https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=615](https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=615)

11/23, Pack-up camp, Make a driving tour of the Mid Hills, southwesrtern New York Mountains, the west flank of the Providence Mountains, Historic Kelso Train Station (the inside is closed for now), a 3-4 mile roundtrip hike at the Kelso Dunes, [https://www.nps.gov/moja/kelso-dunes.htm](https://www.nps.gov/moja/kelso-dunes.htm)
and overview of the Granite Mountains. Drive home.

I will be explaining the geology and natural science of the area along our hikes using maps and diagrams. A guidebook will be provided.
This is a Fund Raiser for the Geologic Maps Foundation, a 501.3.C nonprofit. Tickets are $220/person. Includes guided cavern tour, guided geology field trip, campsite cost, and a geology guidebook (.pdf copy). Please pay by check, made out to the Geologic Maps Foundation at the beginning of the trip.

**IMPORTANT:** If you are added to the trip, please send me ASAP an email with your name and the name of trip you are on. Send to geologicmapsfoundation@gmail.com

Trip will be a small group (8 or less). I have reserved and paid for two tent campsites (#20, #21) at the Hole-in-the-Wall Campground. There is only one vehicle allowed at each campsite but there is overflow parking nearby. We will pre-arrange car-pooling as much as possible. More information on the Hole-in-the-Wall campground:
[https://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/camping.htm](https://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/camping.htm)

I have also reserved and paid for eight folks going on a ranger-guided tour of the Mitchells Caverns on 11/22 @ 1:30 PM (all cavern tours must be with a ranger). We can add two more people if needed. [https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=615](https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=615)

I will be driving, and I can take two folks with me, **if you are willing to share gas costs, and pack all your gear in heavy bags or luggage so it can go in the bed of my truck.** I plan to leave Ventura about 7:00 AM on 11/21 and return to Ventura about 9:00 PM 11/23.

You must be prepared for tent camping, bringing and preparing your meals (there are no stores nearby), and hikes up to 4 miles with a \~2.0-hr pace. You need to be in decent hiking shape.

You'll need to bring car camping gear: food, water (there is potable water at the campground), cooking gear, tent, warm sleeping bag (this place can be cold at night, it's nearly 5,000 ft), warm clothing, folding chairs are nice, and whatever else you need to be comfortable.

You'll need to bring your hiking gear: day pack, water bottles, hat, sun-screen, etc. November can still be warm during the day and hiking in the desert can be challenging as there are many things to maneuver around, like cacti and rock obstacles (best not to wear shorts). Again, nights can be cold. I will bring some firewood for the evening campfire. If you have firewood please bring it too.

Please do not sign-on unless you are committed to making the trip, are willing to camp and hike with the group, and are in good hiking condition.

**For the most part, there is no cell coverage within the Mojave National Preserve.**

**DISCLAIMER / RELEASE OF LIABILITY\***
**(IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ BELOW IN ITS ENTIRETY):**
The hike host is a volunteer and not responsible for the group. Safety should be a priority for everyone in the group. Please treat this meet-up as hiking with a group of friends. If you become fatigued and unable to continue the hike, it is expected you will advise the hike host of this and return to our starting point on your own. If you are able to proceed, it is expected that you will maintain line of sight with other members of the group at all times and help to promote the group’s safety and fitness goals.

Outdoor sports and other events we plan can be inherently dangerous and accidents may happen. By participating in any posted event, you are taking responsibility for your own safety and well-being. The Geo-hikes Meetup Group and its organizers are not trained leaders and we do not confirm the qualifications of any of its members to lead or participate in trips. All participants take full responsibility for their own actions.

If you choose to sign up for this or any Geo-hikes Meetup event, you are releasing the Geo-hikes Meetup Group and its organizers from all liability in case of possible injuries. Your personal safety depends on your own judgment and experience.

\*Anyone 18 yrs. or younger must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Thomas Davis

Geo-hikes Geologic Maps Foundation

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Driving and Hiking Geo-Tour Mojave National Preserve & Mitchell Caverns

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